Icarus

Icarus is a sci-fi PvE survival game developed by the creator of DayZ, Dean Hall. It was developed by survival veterans of RocketWerkz, based in Auckland, New Zealand. The game is available on the PC and updated on the regular.

Plot

The game is set on the titular Icarus, a place that was once meant to be the second Earth. Unfortunately, the terraforming went wrong, turning the air toxic and shattering the hopes of colonizing the new world. Since then, Icarus became nothing but an object of ridicule, a symbol of humanity's defeat.

The moment xenobiologists discovered what went wrong though, all eyes turned back to the planet. The cause was an exotic material of inestimable value. This discovery sparked a gold rush, fueling political tensions on Earth. On the space station orbiting Icarus, seekers gathered, ready to explore the hostile world.

Mechanics

The game is set in in a dangerous open world, its environments resembling those of Earth's. Exploring vast areas, the player must complete objectives and gather exotic materials scattered around the planet. We must also ensure our character's basic needs are met - hunger, thirst and oxygen - facing dangerous wildlife and changing weather. The more resources we gather, the easier it will be to survive. All trees and rocks are extractable thanks to voxel mining. Resources gathered on Icarus can be used to create various tools, structures and machines.

Gameplay consists of time-limited sessions. Scavengers deploy onto the planet from their orbital station. Upon arrival, they have a limited amount of time to familiarize themselves with the environment, complete the faction quest and find resources. We must therefore carefully watch the clock and wisely use every second. If the player doesn't return to the ship in time, all progress and tech is lost. The available sessions vary from lasting a few hours to a few weeks. Players can also build permanent outposts on the planet.

Those who manage to survive the session return to orbit as experienced veterans. The crafting system lets players convert exotic materials into advanced technology, making it easier to survive the next session. As players gain experience, they develop their unique abilities and perks. This lets characters complete objectives faster, automate production and venture into more distant regions of the planet. Acquired knowledge also affects the missions' increasing difficulty.

Game modes

Icarus is a PvE game, supporting both singleplayer and online co-op. Players can form squads of up to eight people at once.

Deluxe Version

In addition to the base game, Icarus also features a Deluxe Edition with two more chapters - New Frontier and Dangerous Horizons - and a limited version of the First Cohort protective suit. Purchasing the DLC adds new biomes, enemies and maps to the game. The Deluxe version also includes Outposts, which are one square kilometer plots of land, on which players can build structures and share them with others.

Technical aspects

The game features impressive 3D visuals.

Other information

During the game's announcement in June 2020, Dean Hall hoped it would be free-to-play. Ultimately, however, RocketWerkz decided Icarus would require payment. They've listened to the community, who were concerned with free-to-play pitfalls, not wanting the business model to interfere with the experience. The game is meant to continously evolve, receive new content, modes and sessions.